Dave and Lin

This has not happened since our wedding most likely. Dressed up at the same time and going out without children. What a feat!!!

Penguins!!!

We were right up front when the woman came to feed the penguins. If you have seen 'Happy Feet', this looks exactly like when they go underwater to feed on the little fish. It was amazing to be that close to them. My favorite thing at the zoo for sure this visit!!!!

Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse

A few pictures from the zoo (really you don't need to see every animal that we saw) that I thought were worthy. We made it right on time to the elephants while the handler was having the male do a few tricks. Even though he is holding his leg up, that is the trick, he isn't about to poop as it looks!! They have a wooden painted cow and goat with real 'udders' that kids can milk. Caleb thought this was great fun, I mean, who wouldn't?? Next, the kids are all lined up in front of the two female lions who are separated from people by a 2 inch thick piece of glass. They were very boring and slept the whole time. Lastly, the kids on top of a tiger. Ha, fooled you, it is just a statue. The real tiger was also sort of a dud and just sleeping in a patch of sunshine.

We interrupt the weekend's events for this important update.....

Cooking update: Made my second batch of hummus (picture one) that is regular hummus with black beans. Far better than my first hummus last week, but I still need to work on this. Far, far less expensive to make your own hummus than to buy Sabra for $4 a pop. (Sorry, Sabra, I truly love you, but you are making me poor....)

Made the Ariotti family recipe for baguettes today. Came out super!!! Picture two is the rising dough, picture three is in the tray, rising, picture four is the finished product. What I am sad that I cannot convey on the blog is the wonderful cracking sound that the bottom of the loaves make when you gently press on them. C'est magnifique!!!

More at Temple Concord

Connie and Molly eating some dinner

Connie chasing Caleb

Caleb putting on a show, pausing for a picture
Nana (Steve's grandmother, Audrey) and Dave share some laughs
Potter, Connie, Dave
Pictures of old......pictures of new

Rehearsal dinner at Temple Concord in Syracuse

Connie (a former student of Dave's at BU, and now a current Iowa law student) and Steve (a BU graduate and soon to be attorney) got married this past weekend in Syracuse and we all five went up there to help them celebrate. The rehearsal dinner at the temple (Steve's family is Jewish) was such a fun time, as the kids were able to attend what was a really informal event. All three of the kids were attached the entire evening either to Connie or Steve (or Steve's mom Cathy) and Dave and I would just catch glimpses of them running around. There was a bluegrass band playing live that basically played every song that Dave and Jeff play. The kids were tapping toes in time to the music and could name a lot of the songs. Very funny!! We spent a lot of time with the bride and groom, their parents, lots of other former students and friends of Connie and Steve's from their respective law schools. Such a fun time!!!

Dave, Connie, Dr. Valenzuela (Connie's dad)

Connie and Potter
Molly, Steve, Potter
Forks up, Connie!!
Cathy (Steve's mom) and Potter

Mega blocks

The children have spent hours in recent days using the mega blocks after they have sat idle in the playroom for months. They insisted that I take pictures of their creations, but I assure you that I am not posting them all. That would be a bit repetitive for us adults.

Batgirl

After playing at friend Annie's house a couple days ago and borrowing the Batgirl dress up outfit, Molly has taken it off for, oh, maybe 10 minutes. I told her finally that we had to wash it so now it is in the hamper. Who would have thought that she preferred this to a princess dress?

Poulet en Cocotte Bonne Femme

This is tonight's dinner!! You can read the title, but really it is oven baked chicken with bacon, onions, and potatoes. Oh, and some herbs for being French and all. It is now cooking in the oven and we'll see how it turns out. I had such fun making this. Crazy, I used about 4 different Revere pots and 2 different iron skillets and more than a stick of butter. Really, that is just insane.

Molly on the water slide

She did such a good job on her own and was the bravest girl I know!!

Waterslide and mini golf

The water slide was a new experience for Molly. While adults could go on the water slide, you could not go in tandem with the kids. Molly had to climb up about 4 flights of stairs, carrying her mat and then wait in line to go down the slide. She was so so brave!!! After the first time coming down when she went totally underwater in the pool, she said she didn't want to go again, but I told her that she knew what to expect and try again. Then she ended up going down a zillion times!!! After the water slide, we headed over to mini golf, her third and final new thing for the day (at this point, we were both getting really tired, it was about 4:30 in the afternoon) but we had a fun time at the golf. Molly's form leaves something to be desired, but she was able to get the ball in most of the holes. One of the holes was a lighthouse, so Laura, I took that picture just for you!!!

Molly at Emma's Skate Estate party

Yesterday was a whole day of firsts for Molly! She went to her good friend Emma's birthday party and right off the bat, she put on roller skates, her first time with that. She wasn't too happy about how, well, roll-y they were, and complained she wanted to take them off. I shot one picture of her before that (doesn't she look thrilled?) but I convinced her to try again and use one of these geriatric walker things to help her around the rink. She ended up having a really good time skating and by the end, was making her way around the rink (with the walker and me both helping) much quicker than when she had started an hour before. After skating, it was pizza, presents, cake and mayhem. It was such a fun time. Emma and her brothers (twins) have birthdays that are relatively close, so it was a party for all three of them. I did get a really good shot of Molly and Emma together. Too cute!!!!

Beautiful nature preserve morning

Went for an hour long stroll through the nature preserve yesterday morning. Didn't see any deer or other big animals, but there were the requisite frogs, birds, and crickets. In another couple of weeks, the preserve is going to be heavily orange and red, you can see it on the tops of many of the trees on the hillsides already. We are in for an early fall and my guess is it will be much cooler.

impersonating Dave

Sitting in the Dave chair, with the Dave mug, Dave fleece and Dave hat. You can hardly tell the difference between them.

ah-ooga!!

It was a throw down!

On the family room floor, all you could see were arms, legs, heads, rear ends, and tufts of hair floating around! It calmed down after a good long while and there were some nice group shots to be had.

WWF

Molly and her new body parts

Molly has been here for a couple of days, but the day she arrived (Sunday) the kids were instantly glued to her.